The impact of the European forestry strategy in African bioeconomy
During its 11th meeting, chaired by Dr. Mamphela Ramphele, the independent tripartite high-level group on Africa-Europe Partnership continued its role as an incubator for EU policy innovation. The issue of de- and re-forestation in Africa was examined, in the context of climate change and the extraterritorial impact of EU regulations.
Members concurred on the necessity to shift the EU's top-down approach to Africa and other third countries towards more inclusive consultation processes under the Global Gateway initiative. To address policy formulation gaps, specific fora should be established to enhance collaboration, mutual understanding, and address concerns like illegal logging. This requires a balanced and thoughtful approach to ensure that environmental and social impacts are adequately considered